Coeliac-type permanent-tooth enamel defects.

Systematic and chronologically distributed permanent-tooth so-called coeliac-type enamel defects are highly prevalent both in children and adults with coeliac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy) and dermatitis herpetiformis. Coeliac-type enamel defects were also found in healthy first-degree family members of coeliac disease patients. Our family study showed that these persons with the typical defected enamel were genetically similar to coeliac disease patients (A1;B8;DR3). As coeliac disease patients are often clinically silent with no gastrointestinal symptoms, or they complain only of minimal abdominal discomfort, both dentists and physicians could select patients with coeliac-type enamel defects for gastroenterological and dermatological consultations, including serological screening tests and later jejunal mucosal biopsy.